irgil's and Bishop Joscelin's
edition of Gildas's epistle differ so materially that the
author of it hardly seems to be one and the same person."
This is Gale's opinion: _Rer. Anglican. Script. Vet._; vol.
i., pref., p. 4. Upon the whole--to return to Leland--it
must be acknowledged that he is a melancholy, as well as
illustrious, example of the influence of the BIBLIOMANIA!
But do not let us take leave of him without a due
contemplation of his expressive features, as they are given
in the frontispiece of the first volume of the Lives of
Leland, Hearne, and Wood. 1772, 8vo.

[Illustration: IN REFECTORIO COLL. OMN. ANIM. OXON.]]

BALE follows closely after Leland. This once celebrated, and yet
respectable, writer had probably more zeal than discretion; but his
exertions in the cause of our own church can never be mentioned
without admiration. I would not, assuredly, quote Bale as a decisive
authority in doubtful or difficult cases;[322] but, as he lived in
the times of which he in a great measure wrote, and as his society was
courted by the wealthy and powerful, I am not sure whether he merits
to be treated with the roughness with which some authors mention his
labours. He had, certainly, a tolerable degree of strength in his
English style; but he painted with a pencil which reminded us more
frequently of the horrific pictures of Spagnoletti than of the tender
compositions of Albano. That he idolized his master, Leland, so
enthusiastically, will always cover, in my estimation, a multitude of
his errors: and that he should leave a scholar's inventory (as Fuller
saps [Transcriber's Note: says]), "more books than money behind him,"
will at least cause him to be numbered among the most renowned
bibliomaniacs.

[Footnote 322: Like all men, who desert a religion which
they once enthusiastically profess, Bale, after being
zealous for the papal superstitions, holding up his hands to
rotten posts, and calling them his "fathers in heaven,"
(according to his own confession) became a zealous
Protestant, and abused the church of Rome with a virulence
almost unknown in the writings of his predecessors. But in
spite of his coarseness, positiveness, and severity, he
merits the great praise of having done much in behalf of the
cause of literature. His attachment to Leland is,
unquestionably, highly to his honour; but his bio